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Diversity

Three of Del Shakes’ core values are Diversity, Community, and Openness. 

In the 2019-2021 Strategic Plan, 25% of the action steps related to diversity. Those action steps are listed here.

Note from Producing Artistic Director David Stradley: “As I look back on these action steps, I see that they mainly represent a mindset of what can diversity do for Del Shakes rather than what Del Shakes can do to advance diversity and equity in our community. In the coming months, we’ll be developing a Diversity Dashboard that reports on our successes and shortcomings at being an organization that advances equity as part of its operations. In the meantime, I hope sharing these strategies reflects that taking actions to promote diversity is a core part of our operational practices. As a small organization, we made the decision to focus our efforts on racial diversity during this strategic plan. We recognize that a fuller approach to diversity will also need to include gender, sexuality, and ability, and other considerations.”

GOAL 1: DEEPER ROOTS 

Del Shakes will produce theatrical programming that profoundly engages many diverse audiences, becoming an essential touchstone in the cultural climate of our community.

Objective A. By 2021, the Del Shakes Summer Festival audience will double its non-white members (from 8.5% to 17%), and Del Shakes will continue to be deliberate in welcoming, encouraging, and valuing diversity at all its programming and among its workers.

ACTION STEPS

1. At least 40% of Del Shakes promotional images on website, selected press photos, in brochures) will reflect racial or gender diversity (i.e., women in traditional male roles).

2. Develop learning programs with youth groups featuring racial diversity (at least one a year outside of The Bridge; two a year if The Bridge is eliminated).

3.Develop performing and learning partnerships with organizations/populations typically underrepresented in professional theatre audiences (at least 4 a year).

4. Explore information distribution systems (radio, websites, social media groups) used by groups typically underrepresented in professional theatre audiences.

5. Create Shakespeare Ambassador program of advocates among groups typically underrepresented in professional theatre audiences.

6. Programming & Audience board committee will establish regular meeting schedule and make annual recommendations/assessments of Del Shakes efforts to accomplish Objective A.

7. Explore LGBT and other theme nights at Summer Festival that connect to diversity beyond race/ethnicity (at least one a year).

Objective C. Del Shakes will continue to identify, employ, and value highly-qualified artists from the region, with a focus on artists who embrace Del Shakes’ community-based ethos.

ACTION STEPS

4. Develop and maintain list of actors of color. 

5. Develop and maintain designer list, highlighting artists of color and female/non-binary artists.

Objective F. Del Shakes will strive for diversity on its board, committees, and volunteer roster. 

ACTION STEPS

1. At least 20% of board will consist of people of color.

2. Del Shakes board will reflect 50/50 gender equity, while realizing this is a binary measurement.

3. Each board committee will have at least one person of color as a member.

4. At least 20% of the list of potential board and committee members will consist of people of color.

5. Del Shakes will recruit volunteers from organizations that reflect racial, gender, and sexual diversity.

GOAL 2: GREATER SUSTAINABILITY

Del Shakes will grow revenue, programming, and staff toward becoming a $500K+ arts organization that receives multi-year funding commitments and pays competitive wages to artists and year-round staff.

Objective C. On a per production basis, Del Shakes will develop relationships with specific targeted audiences that may have interest in production themes or personnel to both increase and diversify audiences.

ACTION STEPS

2. Identify Shakespeare Ambassador at each identified group.

Objective E. Del Shakes will develop a bench of 5-10 candidates for board and committee membership, with candidates added each time a board or committee member transitions off. 

ACTION STEPS

3. Lists will strive to have 2 or more candidates representing demographics other than upper middle class Caucasian (see other strategies in Goal 1, Objective F).

Black Lives Matter

View “Anti-Racism Next Steps” Shakespeare is not a voice we naturally turn to for racial justice. There are elements of his work that are problematic for Black artists and audience members. But at his best what Shakespeare tries to do in his plays is to see every person as a full and complete human being. […]

The Spirit of the Holidays – with wine and cheese

by Christian Wills, Arts Journalist-in-Residence What makes cheese and wine so special when paired together? Why do we often combine the two with the performing arts? How do we apply these to the holidays? For as long as we can remember, dining and entertainment have always gone hand and hand. Spending time with friends and […]

Shakespeare Book Club

“Knowing that I lov’d my books, he furnish’d me from mine own library with volumes that I prize above my dukedom.” – The Tempest As winter turns to spring, join Del Shakes for a monthly book club diving into the world of Shakespeare-inspired literature. These online Zoom discussions will be held the last Sunday of the […]

An ancient tale told anew

by Gail Obenreder, Arts Journalist-in-Residence To end a challenging season – an amalgam of virtual events and safely distanced outdoor presentations – Delaware Shakespeare rounded out 2020 with an online reading of a challenging play, William Shakespeare’s Cymbeline. After a year spent offstage, exploring the canon’s scenes, monologues, and nooks and crannies, Del Shakes actors […]

Building Bridges Through Culture

by Christian Wills, Arts Journalist-in-Residence The topic around race and culture among Shakespeare productions is an ongoing conversation with those in the theatre. Audience members can gleam onto an actor’s struggle between their true selves and what’s being represented on stage. For Del Shakes, the discovery of what a culturally-specific production is and how impactful […]

Book Drive for Brevity Bookspace

This holiday season, we’re inviting you to take part in a Diverse Book Drive to support Brevity Bookspace, a mobile bookshop that aims to provide all humans of Wilmington with woke words and wisdom! Take a look at this book list of titles by culturally diverse authors, make some purchases (due to COVID-19, Brevity is requesting new books only), and then drop-off at Grace United Methodist Church. Brevity will […]

  • New Castle County

    Matthew S. Meyer, County Executive. New Castle County's Rockwood Park is the summer home of Delaware Shakespeare. www.rockwood.org

  • Delaware Division of the Arts

    Delaware Shakespeare is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on delawarescene.org.

  • Janssen's Market

    Delaware Shakespeare is delighted to have Janssen's Market as our Picnic Sponsor. www.janssensmarket.com

  • Highmark Delaware

    Highmark Delaware is our Children's Activity Tent Sponsor.
    www.highmarkbcbsde.com

  • Swigg

    Swigg is our Wine Shop Sponsor.
    www.swiggwine.com

  • Delmarva Power

    Delmarva Power have generously donated assistance and resources to Delaware Shakespeare. www.delmarva.com

Summer Festival Location

Rockwood Park
4651 Washington Street Extension
Wilmington, DE 19809
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Mailing Address

4 S. Poplar Street
Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-468-4890
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About Del Shakes

We envision a Delaware where people from all walks of life celebrate and explore their shared humanity through the lens of Shakespearean works.
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